More time for Ayer Kuning now, Razman says following suspension

Summary

• After being suspended from the Perak assembly, state opposition leader Razman Zakaria says he will use the time to campaign in the Ayer Kuning polls.

• Upset with the decision, Razman says he was merely asking whether those waving foreign flags, Malaysians or otherwise, had breached local laws.

AYER KUNING POLLS | After being slapped with a six-month suspension from the Perak assembly, opposition leader Razman Zakaria said he has more time now to campaign for Perikatan Nasional in the Ayer Kuning by-election.

“I can help out more and tell the people to elect leaders who will uphold the law, not sidestep it and protect those who break them,” he told a press conference today.

The Perak state assembly had slapped the suspension on Razman, effective immediately, over slander and racially charged remarks in December last year.

Ong Boon Piow (Harapan-Bercham) tabled a motion against the Gunung Semanggol assemblyperson in the house, which was seconded by Shahrul Zaman Yahya (BN-Rungkup).

The motion to suspend Razman was enforced after a majority of assemblypersons voted today to endorse the Rights and Privileges Committee’s report against the PAS leader.

Upset but will abide

Razman expressed dissatisfaction with the decision but would abide by it.

He pointed out that two out of the three charges hurled against him were dismissed after arguing his case with the committee.

As for the third charge, Razman was accused of breaching Standing Order 40 (11) for making statements that could incite the public and were racist.

Razman insisted he was merely asking whether anyone raising a foreign flag, be it a local or foreigner, is deemed to have breached the country’s laws.

“All I asked was for the people to rise against treachery regardless of whether it's done by the Chinese or anyone else. Where is the incitement here?

“I’m dissatisfied with the decision made but as a lawmaker and they (the state assembly) being law enforcers, we have to abide by it,” he added.

The PAS leader also questioned the Rights and Privileges Committee’s composition, calling it unfair for there to be only three opposition members out of the seven.

“So, no matter how we fight, when the government takes the matter to the state assembly, we will get defeated.

“The speaker should improve on this… let there be an equal number of elected leaders (from the government and opposition).”

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